Don Vardell Named Executive Director Of Baker Valley Treatment Center

Dear Friends:

Many of you have heard the exciting news regarding Don Vardell's appointment as Executive Director of the Baker Valley Treatment Center, but in case you have not, I have copied the press release below. Don will be accompanying me to this week's IECA Conference in San Diego, and should you be going, we look forward to telling you more about Baker Valley - and hope to do so in person at the Family Support Collaborative's reception Thursday night.

For the past several months, Penikese has been working closely with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to address the unique challenges of our non-traditional setting, especially as they relate to accessibility for those with disabilities and client safety. This process continues and great progress has been made as we work towards the final stages of a plan to address what has become the final roadblock; Island accessibility.

Rather than delay our opening further, the Penikese Board in partnership with the Becket Family of Services, has decided to open "Penikese North" at a fully licensed site in Warren, New Hampshire known as the Baker Valley Treatment Center. "The Penikese Board and our friends are thrilled that we will be able to get the program started in November, said Jim Newman, Chair of the Penikese Island School. We of course particularly look forward to seeing the program move on Penikese Island next spring."

Former Shortridge Academy Headmaster, Don Vardell (pictured above), has been named Director of this program, allowing current Penikese Executive Director, Jay Wolter, and Program Director, Toby Lineaweaver, to continue focusing on our effort to bring adolescent boys back to Penikese Island. Penikese North at the Baker Valley Treatment Center will focus initially on the same population that will be served at Penikese. "This new position, launching Penikese, represents a "full circle" for me as I will again be serving within a not-for-profit organization as I was over 11 years ago when I entered the private, parent choice treatment industry, said Vardell. I look forward to working with educational consultants and their families in this new venture."

Penikese Executive Director, Jay Wolter, observed that the Warren program "will allow us to potentially serve the young adult population up to age 21. Once Penikese is licensed, we will focus our efforts to serve the adolescent population on the Island and likely refocus Baker Valley Treatment Center to serve young adults with internalizing disorders. We anticipate the Island being licensed well before spring and plan to open the Island based Penikese program on or about May 15, 2013."

The Warren program will open on November 18, 2013, and will run at a maximum capacity of ten residents.

Best wishes,

Carl J. Lovejoy
Director of External Affairs
Mountain Valley Treatment Center